Observing the Origin of the Universe Topic of Olan Kruse Lecture at A&M-Kingsville Nov. 8

NASA research scientist, educator from UCLA to deliver presentation

A look at the afterglow from the creation of our universe is the topic of the 5th Annual Olan Kruse Lecture at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Thursday, Nov. 8.

Dr. Edward L. Wright, professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA, will present the free public lecture, “Observing the Origin of the Universe” at 7 p.m. in room 119 of Lon C. Hill Hall. Parking is available behind the Memorial Student Union Building, on the corner of Santa Gertrudis Avenue and University Boulevard. Hill Hall is the aluminum-domed building adjacent to the parking lot.

Wright will talk about temperature fluctuations in space found by NASA which support the Big Bang model of an expanding universe that cools as it expands.

Specifically, Wright will discuss data found through a number of NASA missions he was and is involved with, including:

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite mission, which ran from 1989-1993, measured the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation that fills the entire universe, stretching back to its first day of existence. Wright served as the COBE scientist-in-charge of science data processing.

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), a current NASA Explorer satellite mission measuring the temperature of CMB radiation with even greater accuracy than COBE. Wright serves as co-investigator for the WMAP.

The Spitzer Space Telescope, measuring infrared radiation emitted by objects in space. Wright serves as an interdisciplinary scientist for the telescope.

The Olan Kruse Lecture Series Endowment Fund was established in 2003 for the purpose of bringing distinguished physicists to Texas A&M-Kingsville to make presentations on current events in physics and astronomy.